Buying a Home

The interactive companion to this guide — work out what you can afford, your stamp duty, your monthly payment and the cash you'll need on day one, in one 2-minute journey.

Every upfront cost explained — deposit, tax, legal, surveys, moving and buffer — with worked examples and a required vs optional breakdown.

The April 2025 changes made stamp duty significantly more expensive for most buyers. Here's exactly how it works — England, Scotland, Wales — and what you'll owe.

Why you pay mostly interest in the early years, what drives your monthly payment up or down, and how overpaying early can save tens of thousands in interest.

Income multiples are just the starting point. Credit history, outgoings, deposit size and the lender's stress test all shape the actual offer — here's how it works.

What an MIP actually means, whether it affects your credit score, how long it lasts, and how to get one without unnecessary risk — UK guide for first-time buyers and movers.

How fixed-rate and tracker mortgages each work, the trade-offs between certainty and flexibility, and four questions to weigh the choice against your own budget and plans.

What loan-to-value means, how it shapes your rate and product choice, the LTV bands explained, down valuations, and how to improve your LTV before you apply.

How UK lenders assess your immigration status — settled, pre-settled, ILR or a work visa — plus the deposit, UK credit history and income evidence you need to apply.

Every fee a UK lender or broker can charge — arrangement, booking, valuation, legal, broker and exit fees — and how to tell whether paying one is worth it for your loan size.

The 183-day residence test most guides get wrong — the window opens 364 days before completion, not just after — plus the spouse exemption and the deadline that quietly kills your claim.